To have faith is to believe God's word; not merely a part of it, but all of it, so far as the individual has heard it. It is to believe not only that God is, and that He rewards them that seek Him, but also that we ourselves are: "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Revelation 3:17)
Unless we believe this, our faith will lack one essential element, namely, a deep, earnest longing for God's help.
God gives to people in proportion to the earnestness of their desire; and the reason why people who seem to approach God and petition Him intelligently do not receive more from Him, is simply that they do not want it badly enough.
It was the poor helpless woman who suffered for years and spent all her living upon physicians in vain efforts to find relief,--she it was who obtained immediate help when she touched the hem of Christ's garment, while the multitude who thronged Him, feeling no need of His help, received nothing.
It is earnest, importunate faith that prevails.--Present Truth, June 14, 1894.